This is the first time the initiative, which began in Manchester, is heading down to London.

The scheme stems from Westminster Council's licensing charter work and LGBT Foundation's Village Angels programme, which is a key fixture of Manchester's nightlife. Since it was founded in 2011, LGBT Foundation's Village Angels have helped nearly 100,000 people in Manchester.

St John Ambulance, Drinkaware, Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and Safer West End, are all partnering with the initiative to help deliver the project.

Paul Martin OBE, chief executive of LGBT Foundation, explains: “Since 2011, thousands of Village visitors have been helped by the Angels, [who] regularly carry out life-saving interventions. Unfortunately, we know that people can be targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and that LGBT communities still face discrimination and barriers to accessing support.

"We recognised the need for similar programmes in other LGBT spaces across the country, and that’s why we’re proud to be working with Westminster City Council and Smirnoff to bring the Soho Angels to the streets of London.”

Smirnoff marketing manager, Sarah Shimmons, added: “This chapter of the Smirnoff We’re Open campaign aims to make nightlife a safer space for LGBTQ+ people. We’re committed to supporting Westminster City Council and LGBT Foundation in creating a much-needed service for London, offering help and support to Soho and its LGBTQ+ community to ensure it remains one of the UK’s most inclusive and safe nights out.”